Edelhart von Keller

Edelhart von Keller, Count of Essau (8 July 1738-19 June 1778) was a general of Hesse-Homburg and the leader of a group of Hessians uring the American Revolutionary War. He was killed in the Battle of Monmouth.

Biography
Keller was born in Hochtaunuskreis (near Frankfurt-am-Main) in 1736, in the principality of Hesse-Homburg. In 1756, at the age of eighteen, he enlisted in the army of Hanover and rose to the rank of Major by 1758 during the Seven Years War, and by 1760 he was a Colonel in the army of Wurttemberg. Keller joined the Prussians in 1760 and maintained his rank of colonel, and was made the Count of Essau for a landslide victory at the Battle of Essau in 1762 over the Russians. However, he had to sell the title to the Duke of Brunswick-Wolfenbuttel due to constraints on his monetary gain, and a broke Keller resorted to shooting game and selling it to the markets. In 1775, Friedrich V of Hesse-Homburg made Edelhart a Colonel in the army once more, except not under his command, but under the jurisdiction of Great Britain.

Keller landed in North America in June 1776, and in August his Essau Jägers performed well at the Battle of Long Island against the Patriots. In the following weeks his unit marched south into New Jersey and captured Fort Washington from the Patriots, assisting Wilhelm von Knyphausen's troops. In 1777 Keller participated in the Battle of Red Bank, another Hessian battle, and commanded his Essau unit again in the Battle of Bemis Heights. After the battle he was captured, allegedly while fleeing in just a night suit. He was held in Fort Schuyler as a prisoner for one year, until food and money deficiency forced the gaolers to let loose their prisoners. Keller returned to command in Philadelphia and in 1778 accompanied Henry Clinton's army north. He fought in the Battle of Crooked Billet and the Battle of Cooch's Bridge before the fatal Battle of Monmouth.

Death
Keller was in command of the Essau Jägers in the Battle of Monmouth in June 1778, and led them as a segment of von Knyphausen's unit of Hessians. During the battle, a Patriot cannon shot struck the ground beneath his feet. His right foot was dislocated and his legs paralyzed, and he suffered from blood loss. He died of wounds later that day. His brigade was taken over by Friedrich zu Furst.